The other thing people are surprised to learn is Ali is “Half-Frican,” as he calls it.

“I’m half African-American, half African. My mom is African American (and lives in Houston), and My dad was from Somalia. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago while living in London.”

Ali, 29, who spent many of his childhood years in Houston and attended Sharpstown High School, was in town recently for a special brunch sponsored by Rosa Regale wine at Brenner’s on the Bayou. More than a hundred party goers, including rapper and Rice University professor Bun B, filled Brenner’s breathtaking indoor and outdoor dining space as a DJ played hip-hop, R&B tracks.

Ali graduated later from Poughkeepsie High School in Poughkeepsie, NY. Hi mother is a retired HISD teacher who now travels and enjoys spending time with her seven children and their children across the country. Ali currently has two sisters and one brother who live in Houston.

“Chef Roblé & Co,” which debuted in 2011, chronicles the culinary drama of Ali as he works with his older sister Jasmine Ali and his catering team in New York. Growing up in between Poughkeepsie, NY and Houston, Ali showed talent in the kitchen early learning from his grandfather who was also a professional chef. Ali later enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America in New York and found himself cooking for celebrities including Michael Jackson, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lady Gaga and Jay-Z.

During his recent visit, Ali talked about his style, his T-shirt line and his favorite Houston eateries:

Chef Roblé Ali grew up in Houston and returned this weekend to host a brunch and meet fans.

You cater for a lot of people in both the music and fashion world. What do fashion and food have in common?
One of the parallels between food and fashion is that they are both driven by trends, but there are always the classics that don’t go anywhere. If you look closely, a lot of the new things are classics re-intrepreted.

What’s one of your food classics?
Adam Banks (my sous chef) and I took the classic spinach Quiche and made it better. So instead of using spinach we use collard greens. Spinach is nice but a batch of collard greens kicks spinach’s a$&. It’s been a huge hit. I’m going to make it on Chris Jenner’s TV show. We’re also developing the collard Quiche for stores. So you can buy our collard Quiche, throw it in the oven, and it’s done.”

Has the fame of show, “Chef Roblé & Co,” changed how you dress?
“No. You would think I would dress nicer but I dress the same way. I’m a big fan of Nike sneakers, and I mostly wear street wear. But when I need to get dressed up, I can snatch myself and get it together.”

Has it changed how you cook?
“No. I always cook my best. It’s my nirvana. When I’m cooking I’m in my zone.”

BUN AND THE CHEF: I talked a bit with Houston rapper and Rice University professor Bun B and Bravo’s Chef Roblé Saturday at Rosa Regale brunch at Brenner’s on the Bayou.

You share much about your love life on the show. How much of that is real?
“Everything you see on the show is real. Nothing is scripted. I made sure of that. I knew I was going to be on TV when I was in culinary school. All I really wanted was a cooking show. I didn’t know it would be this pop-culture show on Bravo. I told Bravo at the start I wanted it to be real. No scripted problems. This is catering, problems are inherent. I just wanted them to stand back, roll the cameras and let the magic happen.”

Do you put your entire life out there on the show?
“There’s a lot of stuff I won’t put on TV. You have to have some privacy.”

How has being a reality star changed your life?
“It’s put me in the public eye and has been great for my business. It’s a big fat commercial for my company. It’s increased business exponentially. I’m having the time of my life.”

You’ve catered for so many celebrities, including singer John Legend and NBA’s Tyson Chandler. Any others on your wish?
I got to cook for President Obama during a campaign fund-raiser at Spike Lee’s house. I’d like to cook for his entire family at the White House.

What would you prepare for the First Family?
“I would talk with the First Lady to find out their favorite things to eat. I would take all the information and mix it all up and make sure I did a meal that was pleasing to entire family. Hopefully, it’ll happen.”

What are your favorite places to eat in Houston?
Shipley’s Donuts is the best donut company in America. I also like Goode Company BBQ, Pappasitos and Whataburger.

One of Ali’s T-shirts from his Food Porn clothing line.

Really, Whataburger?
Whataburger is great!

With nearly every celeb sporting tattoos, do you have any?
“No. I’m afraid of needles. Tattoos used to be seen as rebellious. Now, it’s rebellious not to have a tattoo. When you see NBA player without tattoos, you’re like, ‘He’s a rebel.’ ”

We know you cook well, what are your other skills?
“I’m very domesticated. I know how to keep a clean house. I know how to bust some suds. I dust, too. I grew up in a house full of women. My mom made me do the outside and inside chores. I can landscape, mow the lawn and all that.

Can you fold fitted sheets?
Like a champion. You have to fold them while they are still hot from the dryer. If you let them sit in the bag, they’ll get wrinkled.

Why did you name your clothing line, Food Porn?
I was putting photos on Twitter and Instagram, and I noticed my food photos got the most love. People love photographs of food. So now we’re putting those images on T-shirts and ball caps on foodpornclothing.com.